Exploring attentional disruption in fibromyalgia using the attentional blink

Disrupted attentional function in individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has been noted in a number of previous studies. The cognitive mechanisms related to this disruption are not well-understood. This study sought to identify whether differences exist in early attentional processing and attentional capacity in individuals with FMS measuring the attentional blink (AB). Early attentional function was assessed in 16 females with FMS and compared with 16 healthy age-matched females without FMS. Simple early visual stimulus target detection accuracy was not significantly different between groups. However, as target detection difficulty increased, individuals in the FMS group showed significantly poorer performance compared to healthy participants. Our findings suggest that attentional disruption in individuals with FMS is associated with deficits in the early allocation of attentional resources during the completion of tasks with higher attentional demand.     

The role of additional information in the compliance,satisfaction, psychological,and emotion responses of non-surgical patients with low back pain: An exploratory investigation

Abstract

Noncompliance and the psychological and emotional states of patients with low back pain are major concerns for health professionals. The current study evaluated whether amount of information available to patients enhanced compliance to a medical regimen and whether it reduced negative emotions in patients with low back pain. Forty-five orthopaedic non-surgical patients with low back pain were randomly assigned to one of three information presentation conditions: 1) Standard, 2) Pre-examination, and 3) Post-examination. Patients were also separated by compensation and noncompensation within each information group. Patients completed questionnaires at their initial visit and at their follow-up which evaluated their: levels of compliance to a prescribed treatment program, psychological, and emotional states. Results indicated that some patients benefitted from receiving additional information as the Pre-examination and Post-examination groups demonstrated superior comprehension and recall as well as higher levels of compliance to a physical therapy program. In addition, compensation patients complained of more negative psychological and emotional behaviors in comparison to noncompensation patients. Implications of the research and future research considerations were discussed.     

Examining adversarial growth in illness: The factor structure of the silver lining questionnaire (SLQ-38)

The Silver Lining Questionnaire (SLQ-38) is purported to measure 10 aspects of adversarial growth in illness. To date however, no empirical evidence exists to support this claim. Hence the aim of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the SLQ-38 in a sample of 560 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer, cardiac, and renal disease. The results demonstrate that 24 SLQ-38 items can be factored into five subscales: improved personal relationships, greater appreciation for life, positive influence on others, personal inner strength and changes in life philosophy, all of which are in accordance with the literature on adversarial growth. Individuals with MS experienced lower adversarial growth compared to other illness groups. Gender, age and time since diagnosis were unrelated to adversarial growth in illness. The utility of the revised SLQ-38 is discussed along with suggestions for future research on the convergent and divergent validity of this revised instrument.     

Testing an integrated behavioural and biomedical model of disability in N-of-1 studies with chronic pain

Background: Previous research has supported an integrated biomedical and behavioural model explaining activity limitations. However, further tests of this model are required at the within-person level, because while it proposes that the constructs are related within individuals, it has primarily been tested between individuals in large group studies. We aimed to test the integrated model at the within-person level.

Method: Six correlational N-of-1 studies in participants with arthritis, chronic pain and walking limitations were carried out. Daily measures of theoretical constructs were collected using a hand-held computer (PDA), the activity was assessed by self-report and accelerometer and the data were analysed using time-series analysis.

Results: The biomedical model was not supported as pain impairment did not predict activity, so the integrated model was supported partially. Impairment predicted intention to move around, while perceived behavioural control (PBC) and intention predicted activity. PBC did not predict activity limitation in the expected direction.

Conclusions: The integrated model of disability was partially supported within individuals, especially the behavioural elements. However, results suggest that different elements of the model may drive activity (limitations) for different individuals. The integrated model provides a useful framework for understanding disability and suggests interventions, and the utility of N-of-1 methodology for testing theory is illustrated.     

The tasks of self-managing hepatitis C: The significance of disclosure

The narratives of those with hepatitis C were viewed through the lens of Corbin and Strauss’ [Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (1988). Unending work and care: Managing chronic illness at home. The Jossey-Bass health series and The Jossey-Bass social and behavioral science series. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.] self-management model for chronic illness, using qualitative methodology. Fifteen Australian hepatitis C positive interviewees described the challenges and turning points in adjusting to their diagnosis. The data were analysed using open- and closed-coding methods. Support was found for a self-management model encompassing medical, emotional and life role facets for those adjusting to life with hepatitis C. Unique challenges emerged beyond those described by Corbin and Strauss (1988 Corbin, J and Strauss, A. 1988. Unending work and care: Managing chronic illness at home, The Jossey-Bass health series and The Jossey-Bass social and behavioral science series San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.  [Google Scholar]), namely that disclosure impacted both positively and negatively on the tasks of self-management. It was concluded that self-management may be compromised by disclosure, particularly distress derived from hepatitis C-related stigma. The self-management tasks described contribute to broadening clinicians’ understanding of the challenges faced by those living with hepatitis C.     

The utility of McGill pain questionnaire subscales for discriminating psychologica disorder in chronic pain patients

Abstract

The practice of separately scoring the sensory, affective and evaluative suhscules of the McGill Pain Questionnaire has not bccn unequivocally supported hy rcsearch, While there is moderate support for the three-factor Structure of this scale, recent studies have revealed strong intercorrelations among these factors and have not supported thcir differential predictive ahility. Present factor analytic results provide support for solutions involving a global factor in conjunction with either two or three subscale factors. The differential relationships of the sensory and affective factors to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Zung Dcpression Inventory demonstrate support for the validity of separately scoring the two factors in chronic pain patients. Preliminary guidelines are provided for the clinical use of the MPQ to discriminate psychological disorder in chronic pain patients.     

BODE指数评价慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者戒烟效果的研究

采用BODE评分系统评价慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者的戒烟效果.248例吸烟的稳定期COPD患者进行随机分组,一组除常规治疗外给予戒烟干预(即戒烟组),一组给予常规治疗(即对照组).所有患者在入组时和观察结束时均给予肺功能检测、六分钟步行试验(6MWT)、呼吸困难评分(mMRC)、测量身高和体重,观察各指标的变化情况.至1年观察结束时,戒烟组和对照组在BMI(26.70±3.74 vs.25.17±3.63)、FEV1％pred (50.29±12.54 vs.46.68±15.37)、mMRC(1.64±0.90 vs.2.53±1.07)、6MWD(306.84±27.71 vs.257.84士30.34)方面分别比较,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);戒烟组患者研究结束时除FEV1％ pred之外,其余观察指标BMI(26.70±3.74 vs.23.11±3.51)、mMRC (1.64士0.90 vs.2.18士0.91)、6MWD(306.84±27.71 vs.281.15±32.40)与基线值比较均有所改善(P＜0.05);对照组患者研究结束时除BMI之外,其余观察指标FEV1％ pred(46.68±15.37 vs.51.91±17.22)、mMRC(2.53士1.07 vs.2.01±0.97)、6MWD(257.84±309.34 vs.285.14±30.98)与基线值相比均有所下降(P＜0.05).COPD患者戒烟后其BODE评分系统中包括体重指数、肺功能指标、呼吸困难程度和运动能力在内的各个因素均得到一定程度的改善,生活质量显著提高.     

脑钠肽和内皮素在慢性阻塞性肺疾病的应用研究

探讨脑钠肽、内皮素测定在慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者肺动脉高压、病情严重程度及近期预后评估的意义.观察60例COPD急性加重期患者,60例经治疗转为稳定期的患者,以30例健康者作对照.COPD急性加重期患者根据肺动脉压力分为肺动脉高压组(A组)30例、肺动脉压力正常组(B组)30例,根据病情分为轻度组21例、中度组23例、重度组16例.用免疫分析法测定血浆脑钠肽、内皮素浓度.结果COPD急性加重期组脑钠肽、内皮素浓度明显升高,稳定期组明显下降(P＜0.001),但仍高于健康对照组(P＜0.001);A组明显高于B组(P＜0.05);重度组高于中度组(P＜0.05),中度组高于轻度组(P＜0.05).说明脑钠肽、内皮素浓度可反映COPD患者肺动脉压力情况及病情严重程度,有利于其疗效及近期预后评估.     

器官移植技术的哲学诘问

器官移植技术的应用,部分地误导了公众对现代医学的正确理解和认识;移植过程中难以避免地商业化对医学职业精神造成了不良影响;至为关键的是技术应用侵蚀了“将人作为目的”的哲学观念.器官移植技术发展若要避免上述问题,必须反思技术及人的存在目的等哲学问题.